The two sides face each other at Huish Park on Saturday with Glovers boss Way just two years into his managerial journey while Grecian Tisdale has over 11 years of experience. 

A fruitful spell at Team Bath led to Tisdale taking over at St James Park over a decade ago and Way says it’s time and backing which has allowed him to take Exeter to the position they are in.

“We’ve all got a long term plan and a strategy, it’s just whether you get time to be able to put that in place,” he told iFollow Glovers.

“Paul is someone I’ve got a lot of time and respect for the amount of games he’s managed; it’s something I want to emulate at this football club.

“You need time and backing from the board and it’s taken time for Paul to get in the position he is now; I have to take my hat off to him for that. 

“He was under a little bit of pressure from supporters and directors last year, and his loyalty shown to the football club was repaid and has turned out to be the right decision. You have to compliment that.”

Yeovil have scored three goals in their last two meetings with Exeter, drawing 3-3 in Devon last season before triumphing 3-1 earlier on in this campaign.

They are fixtures Way very much enjoys and he’s relishing another battle this weekend.

He said: “They’re always very, very good games against Exeter.

“We can all remember going 3-0 up at their place, and it was a big learning curve for me as a manager due to the after events.

“Then we’ve gone down there and played them in the Checkatrade Trophy this season and it was a great game, end-to-end and this weekend will be a derby game.

“It will be a good atmosphere with a big away following and I can’t wait, it’s going to be good.”